Senate Joint ResolutionNo. 11


Introduced by Senator Leyva

(Principal coauthors: Senators Hall, Hancock, Lara, Leno, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Pavley, and Wolk)

(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Cooper and Dodd)

May 26, 2015


Senate Joint Resolution No. 11—Relative to the United States Postal Service.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SJR 11, as introduced, Leyva. United States Postal Service.

This measure would urge the United States Congress to require the United States Postal Service to take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012, urge Congress to place a moratorium on planned shutdowns of mail sorting centers, and urge Congress to oppose any postal reform legislation that does not continue the mandate for 6-day delivery service or protect door-to-door delivery as it currently exists. The measure would also urge the Secretary of State to publicly oppose changes in the United Stated Postal Service that negatively impact the rights of California voters who vote by an absentee ballot.

Fiscal committee: yes.

P1    1WHEREAS, On January 5, 2015, the United States Postal
2Service implemented lower “service standards” to virtually
3eliminate overnight delivery of first class mail and periodicals,
4and further delay most other mail; and

5WHEREAS, Delayed mail negatively impacts businesses, hurts
6residents, communities, and the economy, and drives customers
P2    1away, resulting in lower revenue and damaging the financial
2situation of the United States Postal Service; and

3WHEREAS, Robust service standards implemented by the
4United States Postal Service are essential to providing prompt and
5timely delivery of all mail, including online purchases, local
6newspapers, newsletters, bill payments, letters, invitations,
7packages, and medicines; and

8WHEREAS, Planned shutdowns of mail sorting centers would
9seriously affect hundreds of employees, over 22 percent of whom
10are United States military veterans, many with disabilities; and

11WHEREAS, At least one of these mail sorting facilities, located
12in Eureka, California, is planning on shifting its mail distribution,
13including absentee ballots, to Oregon, which contradicts the
14obligation of the United States Postal Service to protect voting by
15mail throughout California, which is now commonplace and will
16remain essential to our democracy; and

17WHEREAS, The United States Postal Service has the authority
18to reinstate overnight delivery standards to hasten mail delivery
19and prevent shutdowns of mail sorting centers; now, therefore, be
20it

21Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
22California, jointly,
That the Legislature urges the United States
23Congress to require the United States Postal Service to restore
24service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012, and place a
25moratorium on planned shutdowns of mail sorting centers, and
26further urges the United States Congress to oppose any postal
27reform legislation that does not continue the mandate for six-day
28delivery service or does not protect door-to-door delivery as it
29currently exists; and be it further

30Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Secretary of State to
31publicly oppose changes in the United States Postal Service that
32negatively impact the rights of California voters who vote by an
33absentee ballot; and be it further

34Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
35this resolution to each Senator and Representative from California
36in the Congress of the United States, to the Secretary of State, to
37the United States Postmaster General, and to the author for
38appropriate distribution.



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